Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Exeter vs Millis vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sturbridge | Exeter | Millis | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
7,195Lowest |
8,888 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Millis and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #14 of 38 in RI | #63 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Exeter-West Greenwich | Millis | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.